Hi, everybody.

I got another Pineccone deposit of $5.00, so it went right to cc #1 before I had a chance to spend it on baubles and shinies.

Old 52 Week Challenge Balance: $5858.18

$5.00 pinecone payment

New 52 Week Challenge Balance: $5863.18

My resolutions, financial and otherwise, will be:

1) Increase my retirement contribution by 0.15% in January.

2) Continuing contributing to savings as normal.

3) Continue making cc #1 payments of $100.00 per payday and also $67.48 out of my husband's monthly check.

4) Contribute any survey money, rebates, etc. towards cc #1 payoff.

5) Grow as much of my own food as I can and buy as much other food organic as possible through local or other sources. This will help me to eat as clean as I possibly can for my own health. I also intend to save some produce as I possibly can with a Foodsaver. I know I can do carrots this way.

6) I will continue using the fountain card as a way to challenge myself to spend as little as possible on beverages while I am at work. I will funnel my savings to cc #1.

7) For awhile, I have been using my pocket change as a way to pay part of my grocery store bill. I will continue this.

Hi, everyone.

It was payday yesterday for me, so I have already allocated for 1/3 of the mortgage (in a 3 payday month), allocated for car insurance, and paid the electric bill. I also found a penny on the ground outside a store today. I used $0.69 I had in pocket change to pay for part of my grocery bill.

I got my latest mortgage statement and I paid $155.36 in principal last month. Woo-hoo!

So, here are my update 52 Week Challenge numbers.

Old 52 Week Challenge Balance: $5592.82

$20.00 slush deposit
$40.00 regular savings deposit
$50.00 cc #1 payment
$155.36 principal paid on mortgage

New 52 Week Challenge Balance: $5858.18

I will delay making more cc #1 payments until the end of the coming week because of some other expenses.

I will not be going anywhere for the holidays or having company. My challenge for the next two weeks will be to make as many meals as possible from the food I already have. I will have about $135.00 unexpected expenses at a chiropractor in the next two weeks and want to make sure that does not impact the food budget or other areas unnecessarily.

As part of my recent exercises in gratitude, I have come to realize that whatever my problems, I am incredibly blessed. I have a husband who loves me, friends, a job, a car to get around, money to buy what I need and some of what I want, and the ability to grow food. In the past six months, I have donated food, pet supplies, household goods, clothing, and other items to 1) my college campus's food pantry that serves students in financial need, 2) a local domestic crisis center, 3) the local humane society, and 4) my college campus's office that serves international students.

Hi, everyone. I got my Pinecone deposit and sent it right away to cc #1.

Old 52 Week Challenge Balance: $5587.82

$5.00 pinecone payment

New 52 Week Challenge Balance: $5592.82


Also, I took the day off today and after a morning appointment which ended earlier than anticipated, we went to a local furniture store and bought the new chair. With tax, it was $435. Free delivery. I put it on cc #1, but plan to have it paid off quickly with the following: 1) I had $20.00 in my slush account, 2) $315.00 from regular savings, and 3) $100 from my paycheck on Friday. I don't like taking so much from savings, but that's what it's there for, right?

And even better, my husband asked if they could deliver it to today and they did about 30 minutes after we returned home. We were very happy.

This is for those who do Pinecone surveys. I just logged in to see my balance and saw I have enough to redeem. I noticed under "cash option" that they have brought back the $3.00 option. I know they did not have that for awhile.

As soon as I get my $5.00, I will send it right to cc #1.

I had to stop at a store on the way to work and found a nickel on the ground. Woo-Hoo!

And now for the not-so-pleasant news. On Saturday, DH and I have to go out shopping for a living room chair like a La-z-Boy or something like it. The spring in the current Queen Ann wing back chair is actually poking out the back side. However, it is in considerably better shape than the chair I am using. Its springs on the bottom are completely shot. So, we are performing a chair switch e roo where I get the Queen Ann chair and my DH gets a new chair. I will probably take the cost out of the regular savings account. Ugh. And I just built it up to $1000 about a month ago.

Hi, everyone.

I sent an extra $5.00 payment to cc #1 "just because I can do it." I also used pocket change of $2.14 to pay part of my grocery bill, lessening the amount coming out of checking.

Old 52 Week Challenge Balance: $5580.68

$5.00 extra payment to cc #1
$2.14 pocket change for grocery bill


New 52 Week Challenge Balance: $5587.82

Hi, everyone.

I got $5.00 from Epoll surveys today, so I sent it right to cc #1. I also sent another $2.00 to cc #1 because I have been doing really well with the fountain card.

Old 52 Week Challenge Balance: $5573.68

$5.00 epoll surveys
$2.00 fountain card challenge

New 52 Week Challenge Balance $5580.68

I am doing really well this week with the fountain card, so I am sending an extra $2.00 to cc #1. I will probably be able to send at least one more payment to cc #1 before next payday.

Old 52 Week Challenge Balance: $5571.68

$2.00 extra payment to cc #1

New 52 Week Challenge Balance: $5573.68

Hi, everyone.

After creating my budget for my 3 paycheck month, I decided to make a $100.00 payment to cc #1. Woo-hoo!

Old 52 Week Challenge Balance: $5471.68

$100.00 payment to cc #1

New 52 Week Challenge Balance: $5571.68

Today, I also used some leftover pocket change to pay for part of my grocery bill. It was a small amount and I can't even remember how much, but I try to do this every time as it lessens the amount coming out of the checking account for the purchase and empties my purse of excess change. Woo-Hoo!

I also plan to start my own seeds for a vegetable garden. I need to check on the exact time I need to start that, but I plan to plant the seeds in old egg cartons and put the cartons under a plastic container to make a mini greenhouse so they stay warm. Starting my own seeds will save me some money in the long run and also result in an increased harvest due to planting them earlier. I have not done this before, so I need to read up on it. This is a frugal activity, but requires some work on my part. Wish me luck.

Hi, everyone.

I get paid again tomorrow, so more money is going to debt, savings, and retirement. I have already written checks for the gas bill, savings deposit, internet/phone bill, and allocated for slush deposit and 1/3 of the mortgage. I get paid 3 times this month, so I am dividing the mortgage up into 3 parts.

Prior 52 Week Challenge Balance: $5371.68

$20.00 Slush Deposit
$40.00 Regular Savings Deposit
$20.00 House Savings Deposit
$20.00 AAA/Car Tax Savings Deposit

New 52 Week Challenge Balance: $5471.68

I will also make a larger than normal payment to cc #1, but I have not decided on the amount yet.

Hi, everyone. I just want to wish Happy Thanksgiving to all of you and hope that you are having a restful, stress free day.

I finally got $5.00 more from Pinecone, so that went straight to cc #1.

Also, I have been doing pretty well with the fountain card, so I sent $2.00 to cc #1.

Old 52 Week Challenge Balance: $5364.68

Pinecone $5.00
fountain card savings $2.00

New 52 Week Challenge Balance: $5371.68

Hey, neighbors! I just got my updated mortgage statement and my balance is down to $65,559.74! That's a difference of $312.91, including my extra principle payment of $34.32.

Old 52 Week Challenge Balance: $5051.77

Mortgage Balance Difference: $312.91

New 52 Week Challenge Balance: $5364.68

Hi, everyone. I got paid today and so more money went to debt, savings, and retirement. I am doing so much better than I ever dreamed I would on this challenge. For the first time in well over a year, the regular savings account is over $1,000.00. Woo-hoo! I have worked really hard to get it there.

Prior 52 Week Challenge Balance: $4919.02

$40.00 Regular Savings Deposit

$20.00 Slush Deposit

$22.75 cc #2 Payment (made a purchase on the card - this brings the balance to $0)

$50.00 cc #1 Payment

New 52 Week Challenge Balance: $5051.77


I have also been stocking up on some foods that we use a lot when I see them on sale. This has helped me to level out the grocery budget better. I have also had good success with the fountain card this week. I will likely be making another $5.00 payment to cc #1 next week.

Hi, everyone.

I just cashed in some more survey points and rebates that will come to fruition soon.

I cashed in my rebates at mrrebates dot com for $11.97. I will get that at the end of the month.

I cashed in my survey points at epoll for $5.00.

I will probably be able to cashed in points at pinecone for another $5.00.

This will all make additional payments totalling $21.97 to cc #1.

Hi, everyone.

I figure I have saved at least $2.00 this week by using my fountain card and making my own tea. So, $2.00 is now on its way to cc #1.

Prior 52 Week Challenge Balance: $4917.02

$2.00 extra payment

New 52 Week Challenge Balance: $4919.02

New cc #1 Balance: $4408.00

Hi, everyone.

My 52 Week Challenge is going great, better than I ever even dreamed. I feel so blessed. With Thanksgiving coming up, I feel that I should recognize that I am blessed with, among other things, 1) good health, 2) finances in good shape and improving, 3) friends, family, and a husband who all love me, and 4) a good job.

Old 52 Week Challenge Balance: $4727.02

$40.00 Regular Savings Deposit
$20.00 Car Savings Deposit
$20.00 House Savings Deposit
$15.00 AAA/Car Tax Savings Deposit
$75.00 cc #1 payment
$20.00 slush savings

New 52 Week Challenge Balance: $4917.02

My challenge to limit trips to convenience stores has worked out famously with only 2 trips this week as opposed to daily trips previously, sometimes multiple times per day. All other food and beverages have been brought from home, prepared at work using teabags I brought to work with me, or purchased at work using my new fountain card.

Hi, everyone.

I am still trying to come up with more ways to spend less on stuff. As you know, I have been paying more attention to stuff I spend money on, like iced tea at convenience stores and such and applying the funds I don't use for that to paying off cc #1. Today, I also discovered that at my work's cafeteria where I sometimes buy lunch and iced tea, they have something called a fountain drink card where you can buy 10 refills (you must bring a refill cup which I already have) ahead of time for $6.00 plus tax or $6.56, which comes out to about 65 cents per refill. Yea. So, I have still been resisting going to convenience stores because that is usually $1.19 to $1.30 per 32 ounce drink depending on which one I go to. But at the work cafeteria, I can use the fountain card and save a lot of money. So, I bought one and have been using it for when I do buy iced tea on work days. Of course, I am also still making tea at work and drinking that much of the time, but sometimes, I want to get out of my office and do something different for a little bit. I am going to figure out the difference between what I was paying and what I am paying now and pay that to cc #1.

Woo-hoo! Spending less money on trinkets, blinkets, and shineys nets you more money to pay on debts and necessities. Sound obvious? Yes, it is, but some of us have to consciously remember WHY we are spending less money on stuff like cups on ice tea from a convenience store so that we can some day be out of debt. I have been consciously thinking about this lately and instead of buying iced tea every day, I have been making my own in a pitcher and drinking that. I also bought a 12 pack of sparkling seltzer water and added lemon juice and stevia for a refreshing, non caffeine beverage. Anyway, I am sending an extra $5.00 to cc #1 just because I have funds to do so due to less spending on stuff.

Prior 52 Week Challenge Balance: $4722.02

cc #1 extra payment $5.00

New 52 Week Challenge Balance: $4727.02

Hi, everyone. It's a day off, heck two days off, for me, but I still got paid today, so more dollars are going to savings, debt, and retirement. I have already allocated for 1/2 of the mortgage payment and car insurance.

Old 2015 52 Week Challenge Balance: $4392.02

$40.00 Regular Savings Deposit
$20.00 Car Savings Deposit
$20.00 House Savings Deposit
$20.00 AAA/Car Tax Savings Deposit
$20.00 Slush Deposit
$40.00 cc #1 payment

New 52 Week Challenge Balance: $4552.02

Hi, everyone.

It has been quite a week at my house. Our air conditioner is finally functioning at peak capacity. It turns out the reason why the fan kept running all the time even if we had it turned off is because of two reasons: something called a relay was malfunctioning and a wire was hooked up wrong. Anyway, it's all fixed now. The weather has been rather cool here this last week, so we have not had the A/C on for at least four days. And because we have our new windows, we have had the windows open that entire time. For the last five years, we have not been able to open windows on cooler days because the windows did not open at all.

Also, today the deposit for my rebate from mrrebates came in and went right back out to cc #1. Woo-Hoo! So, here is my updated 52 Week Challenge Balance.

Prior 52 Week Challenge Balance: $4381.58

mrrebates deposit $10.44

New 52 Week Challenge Balance: $4392.02

This brings the balance for cc #1 to $4496.78.

Hi, everyone. I got my Pinecone deposit today and my husband got his check, so here is the update to the 52 Week Challenge.

Prior 52 Week Challenge Balance: $4309.10

Husband's payment to cc #1 $67.48
Pinecone Deposit $5.00

New 52 Week Challenge Balance: $4381.58

This brings the cc #1 balance to $4507.22.

I also got an email from mrrebates about my rebate of $10.44 being available. So, when that arrives in the bank account, I will send it to cc #1 also. Woo-Hoo!

Hi, everyone.

I just got a payment of $5.00 from Pinecone. As soon as it clears, I will send it right to cc #1.

My garden is doing well. My kale and lettuce are about 3 inches hall! In another few weeks, they will be ready for picking. Yummy!

I transferred money the other day to make the escrow payment. The transfer finally cleared, so I mailed the check today.

Tomorrow, my husband's check clears and $67.48 of that will go to cc #1.

I will post an updated cc #1 balance tomorrow after both payments clear.

I just my mortgage's escrow statement today. It states that my escrow account is short by $68.72 for the next year. Guess what? I have over $100 in my escrow savings account. So this will be taken care of in full and without any fuss on Monday. It feels so wonderful for something like this to be so easy to take care of because I thought ahead about it. I can easily remember a time when something like this would have sent me over the edge and in a panic. I am so happy.

Hi, everyone.

I just got paid today, so more money is going to debt, savings, and retirement.

Prior 52 Week Challenge Balance: $4114.10

Regular Savings Deposit $40.00
cc #1 payment $75.00
Car Savings Deposit $20.00
House Savings Deposit $20.00
Escrow Savings $10.00
AAA/Car Tax Savings Deposit $10.00
Slush Deposit $20.00

New 52 Week Challenge Balance: $4309.10

Hi, everyone. We have been working really hard keeping up with making regular payments with extra principal. We have been keeping up those increased payments even though we refinanced last year, reducing our required payment. We received our most recent statement. Our balance is down to $65,872.65! Woo-Hoo!

I am going to start counting the principal reduction (regular principal + extra) in each payment towards my 52 Week Challenge.

Old 52 Week Challenge Balance: $3956.56

Mortgage Principal Reduction $157.54

New 52 Week Challenge Balance: $4114.10

Old 52 Week Challenge Balance: $3947.56

$9.00 reimbursement from a friend for a purchase

I sent it to cc #1

Current 2015 52 Week Challenge Balance: $3956.56

Hi, everyone.

I got paid yesterday, so more money went to debt, savings, and retirement. Here are my amounts.

Prior 52 Week Challenge Balance $3820.11

Regular Savings Deposit $40.00
Slush Transfer $20.00
DH's payment to the credit card #1 $67.45

New 52 Week Challenge Balance $3947.56

Also, other recent frugal activities include 1) planting kale, spinach, and arugula for a winter garden, 2) buying clear plastic containers cheap to use as covers for garden when it gets really cold this winter. I plan to plant some lettuce tomorrow. This winter garden will contribute significantly to my being able to eat organic veggies this winter without breaking the bank.

Hi, everyone. I occasionally order things online and access most vendors I deal with for that through mrrebates in order to get deals like free shipping and rebates. I cashed in my rebates today and so will get $10.44 on October. As soon as it clears, I will send it right to the credit card and update my 52 Week Challenge Balance.

Old 2015 52 Week Challenge Balance: $3700.11

Car Savings Deposit $20.00
House Savings Deposit $20.00
House Escrow Deposit $10.00
AAA/Car Tax Savings Deposit $10.00
Regular Savings Deposit $40.00
Slush Deposit $20.00

New 2015 52 Week Challenge Balance $3820.11

Hi, everyone. More progress to report on the 52 Week Challenge here. I just got a Pinecone deposit in the amount of $5.00, so I sent it directly to cc #1. Woo-Hoo!

Old 52 Week Challenge Balance: $3695.11

Pinecone deposit $5.00

Current 2015 52 Week Challenge Balance: $3700.11